Applauding for Gov. Rick Perry at the National Right to Life convention are Hannah Trice of Little Rock, Ark. (center); Rose Mimms, executive director of Arkansas Right to Life; and Mary Larmoyeux of Perryville, Ark.

GRAPEVINE — Gov. Rick Perry gave a spirited defense Thursday of Republican proposals to curtail abortions, telling a national anti-abortion group that he would not “make things easy for abortionists.”

“I’m proud that she has been able to take advantage of her intellect and her hard work, but she didn’t come from particularly good circumstances,” the Republican governor said during a news conference. “What if her mom had said, ‘You know, I just can’t do this, I don’t want to do this.’ At that particular point and time, it becomes very personal for us.”

Perry was quickly pilloried by Democrats. Davis, who was raised by a single mother, said his statement was “without dignity and tarnishes the high office he holds.”

“They are small words that reflect a dark and negative point of view,” the Fort Worth Democrat said in a written statement.

The exchange comes in a highly charged atmosphere that follows the stormy special session that ended Tuesday when Davis, backed by hundreds of supporters in the Senate gallery, staged her dramatic filibuster to halt the anti-abortion legislation.

The measure would have banned abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and set tough new standards for clinics, doctors and the abortion pill. Democrats contended that it would have forced all but a few Texas abortion clinics to close.

Texas is now center stage in the abortion debate, with national attention lingering from the dramatic end to the session. Republicans vow to continue to push aggressively to restrict the procedure, while outnumbered Democrats are searching for a way to stop them in the next special session, which Perry has set to begin Monday.

Perry’s appearance at the National Right to Life convention reflected the unapologetic determination to shake off Davis’ victory and make Texas the most restrictive state in the nation for abortions.

“We are under no obligation to make things easy for abortionists,” Perry said. “The ideal world is a world without abortion.”

Echoing other Republicans, such as Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, he cast the filibuster as aided by an angry mob of political activists, suggesting those streaming into the Capitol to support Davis late Tuesday were an organized political group.

“They’ll resort to mob tactics to force their minority agenda on the people of Texas,” Perry said. “What we witnessed Tuesday was the hijacking of the democratic process.”

Democrats say Perry and other Republicans should heed the response of Texans who think the GOP has gone too far.

“He should have been able to hear loud and clear that Texans don’t want this bill,” said Rep. Chris Turner, an Arlington Democrat who is a Davis ally. “The people showed up and spoke up. That’s what democracy is all about.”

‘Unfortunate’

Though most of Perry’s speech was about the anti-abortion agenda, it was his comments about Davis that sent a buzz through the political world.

Davis, whose filibuster made her an instant national star, has inspired people with her story of rising from poverty and being a divorced mother at age 19 to become a Harvard-trained lawyer and popular public servant.

On Thursday, Perry tried to turn her biography against her.

“It’s just unfortunate that she hasn’t learned from her own example, that every life must be given the chance to meet its own potential,” Perry said in his speech.

“Wendy is on the Senate floor … stopping legislation that would keep clinics like that from operating,” Perry said later.

Davis did not comment on the allegation. Democrats have scoffed at such comparisons. They say Texas abortion clinics are already tightly regulated and note that Dewhurst, for one, has bragged that the legislation up for debate would force clinics to close, even while Republicans say they are focused on women’s health and safety.

Turner and other Democrats called on Perry to apologize.

“His personal attack on Senator Davis is outrageous and disgraces the office the governor holds,” state party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said in a fundraising appeal. “But it’s not out of character for Perry, who constantly shows just how little regard he has for Texan women.”

Tarrant County Republican Party Chairman Jennifer Hall declined to comment on Perry’s statements about Davis, saying she hadn’t reviewed them. But she said she supported Perry’s call for another special session.

“What happened Tuesday was uncalled for,” she said.

Abbott’s speech

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, a Republican, also appeared before the National Right to Life convention. Afterward, he declined to answer a reporter’s question about Davis or her filibuster.

In his speech, Abbott lauded Texas’ strict abortion laws, such as requiring a minor to receive parental consent before an abortion and requiring doctors to perform sonograms before abortions. The crowd gave him a standing ovation when he described the Legislature’s efforts to pull taxpayer funding from Planned Parenthood’s women’s health clinics.

The looming return to the Capitol has battle-weary lawmakers on edge. Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, skipped the opportunity to bash Perry for his remarks but issued a clarion call.

“If people are truly interested in this issue, they need to show up,” he said. “They need to make their voices heard.”

Staff writer Andrea Gallo contributed to this report.

Follow Gromer Jeffers Jr. on Twitter at @gromerjeffers.

UPDATE: Governor's future

Gov. Rick Perry said Thursday that he would delay announcing a decision on his political future until after a 30-day special legislative session he set to start Monday.

“We’ve got work to do in Austin. That’s not on my radar screen right now,” the Republican said.

Perry had planned to make his intentions known by July 1. Already the longest-serving governor in state history, he may seek a fourth full term or leave office to focus on a second bid for the White House.

If Perry does run for re-election, it could set in motion a primary showdown against Attorney General Greg Abbott. He’s expected to run for governor, but Abbott also derailed a question about his political ambitions for the governor’s office, saying “we’ll be in touch” on the matter. Former Texas Republican Party Chairman Tom Pauken is already in the race.